I began to include choruses and songs from early CCM days . And , I had to learn how to teach the songs and get them into a rotation so that the BSU students would be familiar with them . There were no screens , and we did not pass out lyrics . I remember one of the most popular songs I introduced that first year was , “ Just Because You Are ,” by Phillip Sandifer . Hearing the BSU sing , and worship really began to seal into my heart this calling that God had on my life .
That year , the Lord began a work in me that continues to this day . I was learning lessons and skills that I really did not have words for . It was very organic , and the Lord grew me spiritually as my skill developed . I graduated Tech in 1991 with a degree in Physical Education and English .
Worship leading was not really a job in 1991 , at least not in my Baptist world . I went on to get married , teach school , and just do life . In 1999 , we found ourselves in a church in South Louisiana that was ready to add its first “ contemporary ” service and somehow , they called on me to lead it . That was my second major training ground as I navigated my first church services to plan and lead . I had plenty of Sunday ’ s that were winners and plenty that fell short ! It was during this season that I developed the Short-Cut Capo for Kyser and began my journey in the music industry .
Fast forward to about 2010 . By then , I was a full-time worship pastor and I had started attending the Gateway Worship Conference in Southlake , Texas . It was at this conference that I began to solidify my philosophy of worship and worship leadership .
The simple explanation that a stage is for performing and a platform is for leading so resonated with me and I ’ ve not called it a “ stage ” since . I had seen so many people over the years who treated leading worship as a gig or a preparation for the next gig .
One of my favorite analogies that I have reflected
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